22nd july 1909 emily becker nee lund to maurice lund becker
harrogate, yorkshire to ilkley, yorkshire
12.5 miles
the message
“Sunny Bank, St Marys Walk, Harrogate
July 22-09
Dear Maurice,
Will you meet us on Saturday morning with Billy or the cash. The cash in preference, but Gingin says you can please yourself! We shall get to Ilkley 10-11 & I hope we shall not miss you. Sorry you have a wee bit of cold, make it go away. Cousin Maria has come this afternoon & Uncle Seth this evening. Had a P.C. from Nana. She is in a lovely place.
The heather is beginning to flower on the moors. The air is very fresh up there. Gin-Gin went to Ripley yesterday & got such a lot of ferns & foxgloves & other wild flowers. The vases are all supplied in our room. They look nice.
Love from
Granma”
the sender
The identity of the sender has been assumed to be Emily Becker nee Lund because of the signature of Granma and the references to Gin-Gin which it is further assumed is her daughter Virginia Lund Becker (1870-1947). It could be wrong.
Emily Becker nee Lund (1845-1927) was born in Bradford, Yorkshire. Her parents were Joseph Lund (1823-1886) and Maria Terry (1821-1906). In the 1881 census Joseph is listed as a retired Bookseller.
In 1851 Emily was living with her parents in Bradford. In 1861, age 16, she was away at school at Arcadia House in Rawton near Leeds.
In 1868, aged 23, she married Pierre Leopold Becker (1837-1899). Pierre was born in Paris, France but is listed as a British subject. In 1871 he is a Foreign Correspondent and living in Bradford.. He and Emily appear to be absent in 1881 and in 1891 he is listed as what looks like a Retired Staff Agent and they are living in Scarborough, Yorkshire. Emily is with hi, throughout. In 1901 Emily was living on her own means with her daughter Virginia Lund Becker (1870-1947) in Scarborough. In the 1911 census Emily is living at Belcano, Kings Road, Ilkley with her son Clarence Owen Becker (1869-1947), his wife Alice Becker nee Lund (1867-1962) and their children Maurice Lund Becker (1898-1985), the card recipient, and Sylvia Lund Becker (1902-1992). Virginia Lucy appears to be absent in 1911.
The tree is slightly complicated because Emily and her daughter-in-law Alice are cousins.
Emily’s death was recorded in Wharfedale, Yorkshire in 1927.
the recipient
Maurice Lund Becker (1898-1985) was born in Belvedere, Kent. His parents were Clarence Owen Becker (1869-1947) and Alice Lund (1867-1962). Clarence was Chief Engineer at an Engine Builder in 1911.
In 1901 Maurice was living with his parents in Patricroft near Manchester. In 1909 and into 1911 he was living with his parents at Belcano, Kings Road, Ilkley, Yorkshire.
In 1927 Maurice married Mary Horsfall Butler (1900-1997) in Stretford, Manchester. In 1939 they were living in Esher, Surrey and Maurice is listed as a Professional Civil Servant.
Maurice died in Crawley Down, West Sussex in 1985.
the tree
the places
Harrogate, Yorkshire to Ilkley, Yorkshire
Harrogate, Yorkshire showing St Marys Walk
Ilkley, Yorkshire showing Kings Road
what the card says to us
The picture shows Ripley Castle, Harrogate (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ripley_Castle) which is mentioned in the message the card was posted in Harrogate.
The message raises so many questions. Who or what is Billy and how much cash was involved. Who are Cousin Maria and Uncle Seth as they don’t seem to feature in the wider family tree. And who is Nana, where is she and whose Nana is she?
We also learn that Maurice is suffering from a cold.